Frederick mann and henry herbert akers



(No Model.)

F. MANN 81,- H. H. AKERS. LOCK.

'Noc 537,694. PatentedApr. 16, 1895.

v FREDERICK MANN AND HENRY HERBERT AKERS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.`

. the lowermost of the tumbler levers.

NITED STATES PATENT i OFFICE.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,694, dated April 16, 1895.

Application Eea May 1e, 189e.

Queen of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks and Keys, ot' whichg the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in locks and keys and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, 1n which Figure l` is an elevation of a lock constructed according to our invention, in its unlocked condition, the coverplate beingremoved. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same lock with the bolt in its locked position, and the key, shown in section, in the lock. Fig. 31s a perspective View showing the lock in its locked condition, and with the key removed. The lock in Figs. 2 and 3 like that shown in Fig. 1 is represented without its cover-plate. Fig. 4 is a cross section of a portion ot' the look on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 with the cover-plate shown in position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the under side of Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively an elevation and dge view of the bolt. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the cam-plate; and Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the lever by which the tumbler levers are raised.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

A is the lock-casing which may be of any desired construction and provided with a cover-plate A (Fig. 4) secured to the" casing A 1n any convenient manner.

The casing A is provided with studs or projections A2 for guiding the bolt B, the locking end of which in the ordinary manner is adapted to slide in and out through anopenl ing in one of the Walls of the casing A as shown for example in Figs. 2 and 3. The bolt B is'provided with slots or recesses B B2 for working on the studs A2 and with a recess B3 for enabling it to be shot backward and forward as hereinafter described. The bolt B is moreover provided with a projection B4 in conjunction with which the tumbler levers operate as hereinafter described.

Between the bolt B and wall A3 of lock casing A the cam plate C is so arranged that it Serial No. 474.465. (No model.)

can be freely rotated, said cam plate for this purpose being conveniently provided ywith a boss C', Fig. 4, (also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8) which is received in a circular hole in the plate A3 and may be secured therein in any suitable manner; or would necessarily remain there if, as shown in Fig. 4, the cam-k plate,bolt and tumblers filled the whole space between ythe plates A A3 of the case. The cam-plate C is formed with a cam slot C2 which engages with a pin or projection D', Figs. l, 2 and 4, litted in or forming part of a keylocking arm D which is pivoted at D2 to the casing plate A3 and may be provided with a spring D3 bearing against or secured toa fixed pin A4 so as to tend always to move the operative end of the arm D inward toward the key. The arm D is provided with a pin or projection D4 which works in contact with the plate A3 of the casing A so as to keep said arm in its proper operative position, a pin A5 secured in the cover plate A similarly operating on the upper surface of the arm D as shown in Fig. 4. The cam plate C is also provided With cam surfaces C3 G4 and with a projection C5 which latter fulfills the function of the bit of an ordinary key. The cam plate C is moreover provided with a square, triangular, or equivalent non-circular recess C6 into which the operative end of the key is adapted to lit as shown in Fig. 4, and further with a circular perforation or recess O7 in which the extreme end of the key is received.

E E E2 are the tumbler levers, 4three in number, `but of which there may be any desired number. These tumbler levers are all pivoted on the same pin A6 secured in the plate A3 and, when the bolt is in its unlocked position, pass through the recess B2 of the bolt B. Each of these tumbler levers is provided With a tail spring E3, in the manner common to such tumbler levers,which sprin gs bear against a fixed pin A7 secured in the lock casing, each of the tumbler levers being provided with a recess E4 and gate E5 for engaging with or releasing the stud or projection B4 of bolt B. Each tumbler lever is proto move its operative end, that is to say, the left hand Iend shown in Figs. 1 and 2 inward toward the key. The heel or projection F4 of lever F is always pressed by the spring F8 against the outer surface of the cam plate C the cam surfaces C3 C4 of which serve for moving the lever F outward and through lit and its pin F', the tumbler levers E E E2. The lowermost of the tumbler levers, viz., E2, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided at its under side with pins E7 which, by bearing upon the lever F, serve to retain the tumbler lever E2, as also E and E, in their proper working position.

G is the key which may be provided with the usual bow g or other lhandle by means .of which it may be turned and is provided with a projection G2 of shape corresponding with that of the before mentioned recess C5 in the cam plate C, and with a projection G3 to correspond with the recess or opening C7. The stem of the key is formed with Aone or more annular recesses G4 and one or more annular ribs G5 with which the before described arm D and tumbler levers E E E2 engage. In the key illustrated there are represen-ted two annular recesses G4 with which the arm D and tumbler levers E E2 are adapted to engage the arm D on the side v'opposite to the levers E E2, and one annular rib G5 in conjunction with which the tumbler lever E is adapted to operate. The rib G5 and reduced portions at either side of itare of such diameter that when the tumbler levers E E E2 are pressed by the springs E3 into their innermost positions, that is to say, when the recesses E8 of these levers bear against the appropriate rib or lreduced portion of the key,

' the gates E5 of the tumbler levers E E E2 will all coincide with each other and the stud B4 of the bolt Bis free to pass through the gates E5.

The key-locking arm D is formed with a recess D5 which engages with the annular recess G4 of the key stem and serves to lock the key in the lock until the operation either of locking or unlocking is completed.

The cover plate A is preferably provided with a cylindrical projection A8 which forms an extended bearing for the key.

The operation of the before described lock is as followsz-The key is passed through the projection A5 and pressed inward until its non-circular*projection G2 engages with the corresponding recess C5 of the cam plate C and the key is turned in the usual manner in the direction necessary for `shooting forward the bolt supposing the bolt to occupy its unlocked position before the operation commenced. During this rotary movement of the key the cam slot C2 by acting on the pin D of key-locking arm D draws the arm D inward toward the key so that its recess D5 engages with the annular recess G4 of the key G so that until'this arm D is again moved outward fromy the key, the ykey cannot be withdrawn from the lock, this outward movement of the arm D being next effected at Vthe .at which time the gates E5 all coincide.

completion of the locking operation. The armfD-as before described is retained in its proper position by the pins D4 and A5 so that should an attempt be made to pull the key out of the lock when D is in engagement with G4 the pin A5 will prevent the arm D being strained. Before the keyis turned for shooting forward the bolt the lever F is supported by the cam plate C in its outermost position so that by the pin F engaging with the outer ends of the openings E5 the tumbler levers E E E2 are all held in their outermost position, as shown in Fig. l, but when the cam plate C is turned the smaller diameter of the cam plate C is presented to the heel F4 of the lever F which is thereby allowed to move inward under the influence of its spring F3 and in so doing releases the tumbler levers E E E2 so that .under the kinfluence of their springs E3 they are similarly pressed inward, their inward motion being limited by the surrounding edges of the recesses E8 bearing against the recessed or ribbed portions of the key G At this part of the operation the bit C5 has come against the edge B5 of recess B3 and moves the boltforward toward the position shown in Figs. 2 andB. Up to this stage the key is held in the ylock by the arm D and tumbler levers E E E2 within the casing and cannot be withdrawn, but upon the further rotation of the key and through it of the cam plate C when the bolt has nearly arrived at the limit of its locking stroke the outwardly curved end of the cam slot C2 moves the pin D of arm D outward from the key, which releases said arm from the recess G4 and at the same time that this release is being effected the larger diameter of the cam plate C being brought into operation upon the lever F causes said lever F to be pressed outward from the key and through its pin F to draw the tumbler levers E E' E2 outward so that the gates E5 are thrown out of coincidence and withdrawn from the back of the stud B4 of bolt B which thereby is locked in its shotforward position as shown inA Fig. 3. The arm D and tumbler levers E E E2 now being disengaged from the ribs or recesses of the key G allow of its being freely withdrawn from the lock.

The unlocking-of the bolt is effected in substantially the reverse vof the manner before described with regard to the locking or shooting forward of the bolt, that is to say the key is inserted and turned in the proper direction so as to allow the arm D and tumbler levers E E E2 to be moved toward or approach the -key and thereby for the time being secure the key in the lock and bring the gates E5 into proper coincidence, at which time the bit C5 by bearing against the side -B6 of bolt recess B5, moves the bolt into its unlocked position after which the arm D and, through the lever F, the tumbler levers E E E2 are moved outward so that the key is once again released and can be withdrawn from the lock.

IOO

IIO

It will be seen that unless the ribs and reduced portions of the key are of proper size the tumbler levers E E E2Wi1l either be allowed to move too far or not sufficiently inward so that the gates E5 will not be brought into proper coincidence to allow of the passage of the bolt stud B4, so that a lock constructed according to this invention will present very considerable difficulty should an attempt be made to open it with any key but one specially provided for it.

An important feature which by itself would distinguish the before described lock from ordinary lever locks is that whereas in locking or unlocking an ordinary lever lock the release of the bolt is effected by the movement outward from the key of the tumbler levers by the direct action thereon `of the key and the locking of the bolt is effected by the movement inward toward the key'of the tumbler levers under the influence of their springs, the release of the bolt in the present invention is effected by the movement inward toward the key of the tumbler levers under the inliuence of their springs and not by the direct operation thereon of the key and the locking of the bolt is effected by the movement outward from the key of the tumbler levers also without the directl action of the key thereon.

The lock may be provided with any desired number of tumbler levers and with one or more arms D the key G being correspondingly provided with a suitable number of annular ribs and recesses. Besides this, various other modifications may be made without departing from the essential features of the invention.

We claim- '1. In a lock, the combination with the locking bolt,.of a plate carrying the bolt-operating bit, and having a cam thereon, a key-locking arm, and a pin on the key-locking arm engaging the cam; substantially as described.

4. In a lock, the combination with the locking bolt, a key-locking arm, a tumbler lever and a lever for operating it, of a bit-carrying plate having a non-circular recess, and cams for operating the last named lever and the key-locking arm; substantially as described.

5. In alock, the combination of the locking bolt, a tumbler lever, alever for operating it, a bit-carrying plate having a non-circular recess,va cam for operating the last named lever, a keydocking arm, and a cam for operating it; substantially as described.

6. In a lock, the combination of the locking bolt, a pivoted tumbler lever, which latter approaches the key when said key is turned to allow the locking bolt to be operated, a pivoted lever for moving the tumbler lever outward from the key, a key-locking arm, a cam plate with a bit thereon for directly operating the locking bolt, tumbler lever, pivoted lever and key-locking arm, and a key of such diameter at the various points against which the tumbler lever abuts as to support the tumbler lever in such position that the bolt normally retained by it is free to be operated; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereto set our hands in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK MANN. HENRY HERBERT AKERS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED J. BOULT, HARRY B. BRIDGES. 

